Incident Summary
On March 23, 2016, at approximately 1600 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR22 airplane, registration N927DS, impacted terrain following the deployment of its ballistic recovery system (BRS) parachute near Alexandria International Airport (AEX) in Alexandria, Louisiana. The pilot and a flight instructor were on board and were not injured. The airplane was registered to Rucks Aviation, LLC and operated by a private individual under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Details of the Flight
The flight originated from Dallas Executive Airport in Dallas, Texas, with the destination of AEX. According to the pilot, the flight was uneventful until the descent into AEX. During the descent, the pilot reduced the engine throttle and observed some shaking from the engine. After brief troubleshooting, he determined that the engine would not produce sufficient power for a landing at AEX. Due to unsuitable terrain for an off-airport landing, the pilot elected to activate the BRS. The airplane descended under the parachute canopy and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage during impact.
Post-Accident Examination
After the accident, seven gallons of fuel were drained from the right wing fuel tank, and 23 gallons were drained from the left wing fuel tank. The fuel selector was found positioned to the right fuel tank. The engine was removed and placed in a manufacturer's test cell for a functional test. The manufacturer reported that the engine started normally on the first attempt without hesitation or stumbling at observed RPM. The engine was tested at various power settings for approximately 25 minutes, including rapid throttle applications. Throughout the test phase, the engine accelerated normally without any hesitation, stumbling, or interruption in power, and it demonstrated the ability to produce rated horsepower. The postaccident examination revealed no airframe or engine anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.